Hazsite/EDS Help Getting Started

Getting Started

Introduction

Welcome to the DEP Site Remediation Program HazSite Homepage. This document provides guidance and links to software to assist in the development of electronic data submissions required per the Technical Requirements for Site Remediation (N.J.A.C. 7:26E), or Tech Regs. The Tech Regs state that the results of chemical analysis of environmental samples must be provided in electronic format.

Who Needs to Submit Data?

The requirements for electronic data apply to any party submitting data for samples collected after July 18, 1997 as part of an Site Investigation (SI), Remedial Investigation (RI) or Remedial Action (RA). The only exemptions are samples collected as part of a limited one-time sampling event.

The interested party or their consultant is responsible for submitting a complete data package. A lab or other subcontractor may provide information to the primary consultant, however there is to be only one successful submission to Site Remediation Program.

How Do I Submit Data?

There are several options for preparing data for submission to SRP. Data must be formatted and meet the guidelines specified in the SRP-Electronic Data Interchange Manual.

1. The HazSite Data Entry Application is a stand-alone executable data submittal application. All of the required fields, valid entries, and administrative checks are included. It is menu driven and has copy options to assist the use in data entry. More extensive data entry will be better facilitated through one of the following approaches.

2. Another option to prepare this data is to create three tables using any available software, and save them in a Text-Tab Delimited (.TXT) , Spreadsheet (.WK1 1-2-3), or database (.DBF) format. It is suggested that the Text-Tab Delimited format be used to avoid problems that may be associated with proprietary data structures.

If this option is used, it is necessary that the formats outlined in the SRP Electronic Data Interchange Manual (SRP-EDI) are strictly adhered to, with regard to structure of the Dataset, Sample and Results tables, field names, field lengths, required fields, order of fields, and use of valid values.

3. Finally, the hybrid option may be used. In this instance, Option 1 or Option 2 is applied by the contractor to prepare the DTST (data set description) file and HZSAMPLE file. The third table HZRESULT - containing results, is provided by the laboratory and submitted along with the DTST and HZSAMPLE files as a complete submission. The HZRESULT file should be provided to the submitting party in one of the accepted formats.

Regardless of which option is chosen it is necessary to follow the rules stated in the guidance documents. It is strongly suggested that submitting party’s review each submission using the Electronic Data Submittal Application (EDSA) to ensure that a submission will be accepted by NJDEP when delivered.

Data is submitted to the case manager with other project deliverables, or as data representing a complete submission - DTST, HZSAMPLE, and HZRESULT files - is received from the field and laboratory. The data shall be submitted on a diskette accompanying hard copy submission.

If the data being submitted is larger than one diskette, use of PKZIP or WINZIP is suggested. Please limit Zip file names to eight characters followed by .zip extension. These programs use a common format that allows compression to less than half the original size. Please see the Frequently Asked Questions, item 6 for more information, or go to the HAZSITE Software web page and select the link PKZIP Utils (PKWARE) for instructions on downloading this product.

How will data be used?

Electronic sampling data does not change the state of the environment. It does not create new contaminated sites nor does it eliminate environmental problems. Electronic data provides greater accuracy and an increased ability to evaluate environmental conditions at individual sites, as well as across the state.

The data submitted to the HazSite Electronic Data Submission (EDS) Program will be used by New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection case managers and technical staff during the decision making process. The ability to quickly evaluate a site in a regional context will allow DEP SRP staff to consider the interaction between sites and potential off-site sources of contamination. Most importantly, informed decision making will decrease the time required to resolve disputes, increase the responsiveness of the agency, support appropriate remediation measures, and permits the agency to evaluate past decisions using quantifiable performance measures.

Other department programs will have access to important contaminant data. For instance, the well permitting program can use the data and the department's Geographic Information System to ensure that wells are not being drilled in or near contaminated ground water. A more accurate understanding of environmental conditions will not only result in greater public safety, but will prevent the restriction of such activities when protection is unnecessary.

Over time the data provided to NJDEP will be made available to the public to support activities beyond the department.

Who will benefit?

Everyone benefits from the collection of sampling data – citizens of New Jersey, the regulated community, and the Department of Environmental Protection. Public safety will be improved. By increasing our understanding of environmental conditions the department is better able to protect the health of residents within the state. The regulated community will benefit. As is collected suspected hazardous sites can be evaluated in a regional context. Moreover, historical data and data provided for other sites may be used reduce the data collection burden. The Department will benefit by being able to address cases more rapidly and base decisions on a more comprehensive understanding of site characteristics. This will lead fewer unforeseen problems that raise remediation costs and diminish the protection provided to surrounding communities. Periodic review of data for sites across the state supports the development of performance measures allowing the Department to determine whether the costs of remediation have provided the benefits that were originally proposed. Electronic data is the foundation for "intelligent" decision making that is based in reality not perception.